Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is surrounded by water and much of its history and resources relate to its maritime location. It should be no surprise, then, that there are many shipwrecks in the waters around the park.

When Congress returns to Washington later this month, watch for Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee to resume a push to exempt the Border Patrol from a wide variety of environmental and National Park Service regulations.

The United States has been invaded. None of the presidential candidates are talking about it and I haven’t even seen it mentioned on the national news reports yet. Birders, however, are well aware of this invasion and we welcome our new owl overlords.

A 3,200-acre tract of raw, wild land next to a section of Acadia National Park once planned for development as an "eco-resort" has been purchased by a company that intends to work to see the land preserved.

America is abundantly rich in the "natural assets" found within the National Park System, but inadequate funding by Congress is threatening the core health of that system, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.

It's easy to name colorful parks come fall. Acadia National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Shenandoah National Park are just three. But where do you go to see spectacular fall colors...without the crowds?

Though Hurricane Irene was hundreds of miles away, officials at Cape Cod National Seashore and Acadia National Park were getting for the lady's arrival, closing down facilities and urging visitors to be careful.

For years I've been searching for railroad memorabilia tied to the national parks: Posters, luggage stickers, calendars, even timetables from the Northern Pacific, Great Northern Railway, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific.

The Friends of Acadia is celebrating its 25th anniversary this Saturday with a dinner and auction to help it continue to work on behalf of Acadia National Park. And you don't even need to attend in person to vie for such items as Maine-made artworks or tickets to the lighting of the National Christmas Tree at the White House come December.

Birders and wildlife watchers are starting to get used to the fact that gear manufacturers recognize us and want to make equipment specifically for us. So it wasn’t a surprise, but definitely great news, when Lowepro came out with their Optics Series for wildlife viewing.

It's been nearly 225 years since Congress called for lighthouses "beacons, buoys and public piers" to be built for the safety of the public and seafarers. You can celebrate that occasion, which fell August 7, 1789, by visiting one of the many lighthouses across the National Park System.

With the summer travel season officially here, millions of folks will be heading out into the National Park System in the coming months. If you're one of them, just remember to be mindful of your safety, and that of your family and friends.

With spring still on its way to the Rockies and High Sierra, and summer well under way in some parts of the country, this seems a perfect time to honor all 2010 Appalachian Trail thru-hikers, consider ways to support national parks, and look at ways to enjoy the parks.